CVE-2010-5241 in AutoCAD
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple untrusted search path vulnerabilities in Autodesk AutoCAD 2010 allow local users to gain privileges via a Trojan horse (1) dwmapi.dll or (2) IBFS32.DLL file in the current working directory, as demonstrated by a directory that contains a .dwg file. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/20/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-5241 represents a critical privilege escalation issue affecting Autodesk AutoCAD 2010 software. This flaw stems from improper handling of dynamic link library loading mechanisms within the application's search path resolution process. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the AutoCAD application attempts to load essential system libraries but fails to properly validate the source of these dependencies, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by local attackers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves two distinct attack vectors through Trojan horse files named dwmapi.dll and IBFS32.DLL. These malicious files are designed to masquerade as legitimate system components that AutoCAD expects to find in its execution environment. When a user opens a .dwg file from a directory containing these crafted malicious DLLs, the AutoCAD application loads these libraries from the current working directory rather than from the system's designated library locations. This behavior directly violates the principle of least privilege and trust boundary enforcement that should protect against unauthorized code execution.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables local users to escalate their privileges from standard user level to elevated system privileges without requiring administrative credentials. The attack requires physical access to the target system and knowledge of the application's execution path, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users have local access to AutoCAD installations. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it can potentially allow attackers to install persistent backdoors, modify system configurations, or access sensitive data processed through AutoCAD.
The root cause of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-426 Untrusted Search Path, which specifically addresses the risks associated with applications that search for libraries or executables in untrusted directories. This weakness creates a fundamental flaw in the application's security architecture by failing to implement proper security controls around dynamic library loading. The vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers the exploitation of legitimate credentials and system privileges through various means including DLL injection and search path manipulation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate application of Autodesk's security patches and updates, implementation of proper directory access controls, and deployment of application whitelisting solutions to prevent execution of unauthorized DLL files. System administrators should also consider implementing security measures such as Windows Defender Application Control or similar technologies to restrict which DLLs can be loaded by AutoCAD processes. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of opening .dwg files from untrusted sources, and organizations should implement strict file handling policies that prevent execution of files from user-accessible directories where malicious DLLs could be placed.
The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices in preventing search path manipulation attacks and highlights the need for regular security assessments of legacy software applications. Organizations using AutoCAD 2010 should prioritize upgrading to supported versions that have addressed these security concerns, as older versions may contain additional undiscovered vulnerabilities that could be exploited in similar manners. The incident also underscores the necessity of maintaining comprehensive inventory and asset management practices to identify and remediate vulnerable software installations across enterprise networks.